CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Valorous Valdez Blasts P-Nats to Walk-off Victory

Published on May 1, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va- On what seemed like an endless night at Pfitzner Stadium, hope seemed lost for a P-Nats ballclub who fell behind by five in the first, only to battle back and tie the game. Missed opportunities littered the box score as the home team failed to notch the final tally numerous times as the ninth inning came and went with bonus baseball on the docket. When Frederick pushed across a single run in the top of the 13th, the pressure fell squarely on the shoulders of the P-Nats offense to save the day as the game crept closer to the four-hour mark.

Facing a Frederick hurler who had yet to allow a run in 8 2/3 innings this season, the Potomac task was daunting to say the least. However, two walks, one intentional, put runners at first and second for Jesus Valdez, the other P-Nat outfielder with light-tower power. Valdez wasted no time in sending the 4,233 fans still in attendance home happy with a titanic tater that cleared the 50-foot scoreboard in left-center field, giving the P-Nats the hard-earned victory, 8-6 over the Keys.

The night began with a bit of fanfare as the Nationals welcomed their first Major League rehab assignment to Woodbridge as Washington Nationals reliever Joe Beimel started the game on the hill. Beimel, working his way back from a hip flexor injury, threw mostly fastballs in an attempt to get his rhythm back. The Keys' hitters were prepared for this, however, and knocked the southpaw around the park for five runs in the top of the first.

Down by five early, the P-Nats refused to panic against Orioles' top prospect Brian Matusz. Brian Peacock knocked in two with an RBI triple, and Sean Rooney and Boomer Whiting tallied an RBI apiece to push the score to 5-5 in the sixth inning.

The P-Nats had numerous chances to take control of the game in the first nine innings. Chris Marrero led off with a double in the eighth, but was caught trying to tag up to third base on Michael Burgess' fly ball to left field. In the ninth, the P-Nats had runners on the corners with only one out, but Dan Lyons grounded into an inning-ending double play to send the game to extras.

Bradley Meyers, the scheduled starter who took over for Beimel in the second inning, continued his dominance over Frederick. Last Friday, Meyers tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings against the Keys in Frederick and did not miss a step in his outing Friday, throwing six innings of three hit ball and striking out six.

All in all, the P-Nats bullpen pitched 12 innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out 13 Keys hitters. Carlos Martinez (1-1) kept the rest of the bullpen arms fresh by winging four frames. He picked up the win thanks to Valdez' heroics in the bottom of the 13th.

After Valdez's shot sailed far into the forest beyond the outfield fence, the P-Nats sprang out of the dugout to meet him at home plate as the slugger jumped headfirst into the open arms of his jubilant teammates. There were many fireworks at the Pfitz on Friday night, and this is only game one of a three-game set.

More fireworks are scheduled for Saturday night, only these are of the Fourth-of-July variety as Saturday night at Pfitzner Stadium will be holding a fireworks spectacular after the final out is recorded in game two between the Keys and P-Nats with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 ET. The fireworks extravaganza will be presented by CarMax.

For more information on tickets, daily promotions, and all the information to satisfy your P-Nats needs, call (703) 590-2311 or log onto www.potomacnationals.com to join the party!

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Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2009


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